Illuminated sign



May 17 1927.

ILLUMINATED srqn Filed Aug. '10, 1925 y 3 7 lo 2 v IN V EN TOR;

1,628,912 s. A. mes I Patented May 17,1927.

unrrso STATES 1,628,912 PATENT orrlce.

STEVEN A. RICE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application filed August 10, 1925. Serial No. 49,229.

This invention relates to illuminated signs of the type adapted to be usedfor automobile license plates, advertising purposes, etc, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved device of" this character.

As is well known, automobile license plates are formed 'in different colors each year, whereby to easily distinguish the new plates from the old. It is also desirable in advertising and other signs to occasionally change the color scheme. My invention provides an improved illuminated sign device wherein the color scheme can beeasily changed as desired. It is another object of my invention, therefore, to provide an improved device of this character which can be very cheaply and easily manufactured, will be neater and more attractive in use, and the color scheme of which can be readily and easily changed at will.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In such drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown certain embodiments of my invention, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures of the drawing- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an automobile license plate and holder constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view therethrough, on line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of one end of the front plate thereof.

Fig. 5 is a front view of an advertising sign constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing, 1 indicates a comparatively shallow sheet metal box open only at the front and made from a single piece of metal. In constructing this box the sheet is formed with projecting wings of such a shape that when folded together the same form the edges and frontborder 2 about the front opening. The

front of the top edge 3 is slotted at at to receive a. front plate 5 therein, and a U-shaped strip 6 is mounted in each end of the box and forms a guideway between the front border 2 and such strip to receive andhold the front plate in position. i

The front plate 5 has characters stencil cut therethrough, as the license number illus trated in Fig. 1. The top edge is bent over at 7 and a slit 8 is provided in an ear 9 thereof for receiving a staple 10. staple is adapted to receive a padlock for locking the plate against removal. 'The front surface of the plate -5 can be painted any color desired and the stencil-ed charac- The ters or numbers can be made to appear of any other color desired by the means now to be described.

I provide a colored backing plate 11 for the front 5, the backing plate being mounted directly on the rear of the front plate .as illustrated. Preferably, I provide flanges 12 on the edges of the front plate for holding the backing plate thereto. These flanges are bent over the rear face of the front plate as illustrated in Fig. 4 in a manner to hold the backing plate at the edges thereof. These flanges 12 in connection with the top 7 serve to hold the backing plate securely in place against the rear face of the front plate. It will be obvious that the construc tion is extremely simple, very cheap to manufacture, and most eflicient in operation.

A pair of electric light sockets 13 are mounted in the bottom edge of the box 1 in a manner adapted to conveniently receive electrical connections thereinto and bulbs 14 therein. When the bulbs are lighted the stenciled characters appear very brilliantly through the backing plate 11. This plate can be of any material desired, the same, however, preferably being of light weight, thin, translucent and non-inflammable. It will be understood that when the license plate is to be changed a new plate of any stencil and color can be easily substituted for the old plate, or if the number is to remain the same the old plate can be repainted any color desired. The backing plate .11 can be easily removed and one of another color substituted therefor, as will be understood.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my invention adapted to an advertising sign. The construction of the body or box 15 is substantially the same as box 1 above described. Any stencil as the word Cycol, can be cut through the front plate 16. An electrical circuit for the lights is supplied through the cord 17 and the sign can be hung from a chain 18. It is intended that this sign shall be hung in a window or other conspicuous place and the same Willshow Very brilliantly in any color scheme desired.

It is believed that the construction, operation, and various advantages of my invention will be obvious from the above descrip tion. The device produced is simple and cheap to manufacture and its arrangement provides all the features desired in such a device in a most efficient maner.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An illuminated sign comprising the combination of a comparatively shallow sheet metal box open at the front, an electric light therein, a removable metal front plate having characters stencil cut therethrough, a colored backing plate carried by the stenciled plate at the rear thereof, flanges integral With the edges of the stenciled plate and bent backward therefrom in a manner to I receive and to hold the backing plate, and a pair of independent members extending respectively along the ends of the box therein and spaced from the front marginal edge of the box in a manner providing a pair of vertical slideways for receiving the ends of the combined front plate and backing plate thereinto.

2. An illuminated sign comprising the combination of a comparatively shallow sheet metal box open at the front, an electric light therein, a removable metal front plate having characters stencil cut theret-hrough, a colored backing plate carried by the stenciled plate at the rear thereof, flanges integral with the bottom and side edges of the stenciled plate and bent backward therefrom in a manner to receive and hold the backing plate, means at the end of the box and at the front side thereof providing slideways for receiving the combined front plate and backing plate thereinto, a rearwardly projecting integral flange on the top edge of the front plate, and means co-operatiug therewith for locking the front plate in its inserted position in the box.

STEVEN A. RICE. 

